The therapeutic practice transforming lives at Framework

At Framework, we understand that recovery is about far more than resolving an immediate crisis. Many of the people we support are rebuilding their lives after trauma, instability and difficult experiences that have shaped how they experience their every day. That is why therapeutic practice is built into our services, offering safe spaces where people can stabilise, reconnect with themselves and begin to move forward with confidence.

Creative activity, routine and community are powerful tools in this process, and we see their impact every day. The examples below highlight just a few of the therapeutic approaches in our services, but our teams across the organisation deliver much more to support people on their recovery journeys.

Art as a Path to Recovery

The Newark Art Group, run with Art Smart and the Moving Forward team, shows how creativity can help people manage emotions and reconnect with others. What began as a short pilot has evolved into a thriving community space where attendees explore painting, clay work, lino cutting and more. For many, the sessions offer a sense of calm and focus that can be hard to find elsewhere.

As one participant shared, “I use the sessions as a real escape and an opportunity to wind down… It is a great opportunity to socialise.” Another added, “if it was not for these sessions, then I would just be stuck at home.” While the artwork matters, it is often the emotional grounding and social confidence that make the biggest difference.

Danny has been accessing Framework services for 15 years and says he has “only positive things to say about my experience. I have also designed my own postcards whilst accessing the art sessions and started to sell them. I have sold nearly 100 so far and am donating the proceeds to Framework.”

You can follow Danny on Instagram and buy his fantastic prints at @weller_im_1.5.

The team in Newark have found that structured creative time offers a gentle way to reconnect with others and rediscover interests that may have slipped away during difficult periods.

Creative Community at Nottingham Recovery Network

At Nottingham Recovery Network, creativity is also central to the Community Rehab offer. The well‑attended arts and crafts group has supported people in exploring collage, model making and other hands‑on activities that encourage self‑expression and concentration. Alongside this, the team facilitates gardening, music and trips into the community in partnership with organisations such as The Canal & River Trust and Stonebridge City Farm.

These groups help people rediscover hobbies and build healthy social connections beyond drugs, alcohol and crisis. They play an important role in helping participants build a new sense of identity that supports ongoing recovery. Artwork from this group recently featured in Framework’s Hope Box project, displayed alongside pieces created by residents at Grove House.

Grove House: A Therapeutic Home for Women

Grove House offers supported accommodation for women who have experienced trauma, providing stability, routine and a safe environment where residents support one another. Women regularly speak about how transformative the space feels. One said, “here, you’ve got your own door, your own space… I need my own space – and here, you get that.”

The space has been designed by and for women with histories of rough sleeping and/or the most complex needs. Communal areas include room for activities and treatment as well as private rooms for delivering 1-2-1 support. This combination of community and privacy is essential.

One resident described it as “the most settled I’ve been in 27 years.”

A Supportive Start to Recovery at The Level

Therapeutic care is equally important in short‑stay environments like The Level, Framework’s detox centre. Although most people only stay for one or two weeks, the service provides a psychologically informed environment that recognises how past experiences influence emotions and behaviour. The Level offers a holistic, person‑centred programme incorporating approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), emotional‑resilience work, mindfulness, anxiety management, yoga, sleep hygiene, gym sessions and relapse‑prevention planning. Each intervention focuses on strengthening coping skills and preparing people for ongoing recovery. Richard Sparkes, Service Manager of The Level, shared: “it is an opportunity for our service users to experience things they may never have had; the opportunity to experience community – and the feedback from the service users is always incredibly positive.”

Creating Spaces Where People Can Thrive

Across all our services, therapeutic practice helps people rediscover who they are beyond trauma, crisis or substance use. Creative activity, supportive environments and psychologically informed care work together to help people build confidence, develop healthy coping strategies and shape a future defined by hope.